Well-known ventriloquist to perform at the Talent Factory on March 3

By Marlys Barker Nevada Journal Editor

Thursday

Feb 15, 2018 at 12:01 AM

Todd Oliver has been on stages around the world and on countless television shows, and on Saturday, March 3, this well-known ventriloquist/comedian will be in Nevada at the Talent Factory for his second time in the past two years.

You wouldn’t think it possible with all the traveling he does, but Oliver, 59, actually remembers his first visit to Nevada quite well.

“It was just great; the audience was wonderful, down to earth … folks just out to have a good laugh and bring the kids with them.” He even remembers that the Talent Factory owner took him to the best little restaurant ever — the Country House in Colo. He expects it will be much of the same when he returns.

Oliver, who performs with his Boston Terrier, the talking dog Irving, along with a cast of other characters, plays to families and people of all ages in a very clean comedy show.

“There’s usually all ages in the audience, from elderly to college kids, to parents, teens, little kids … to be able to get the entire audience laughing together, it’s really a fabulous energy,” he said. “It’s something when all ages can laugh and not be disgusted.” Dirty comedy may work for some entertainers, he said. He doesn’t judge what others do. “But it (dirty) has never been my style.”

What is his style, his craft, he said, is to create an atmosphere where all ages are laughing together and having a good time, and with Irving, who has been with him since 1996 (he’s actually on his fifth Boston Terrier to play the part), that’s exactly what Oliver does.

Originally from Minnesota, Oliver now lives in Ozark, Mo., on a ranch with his family and lots of animals. “I like living here because it’s the center of the country, a good home base,” he said during a phone interview.

He started doing ventriloquism when he was 13 years old. He’d gotten a dummy for Christmas when he was 10 and three days later his father died. “That dummy and being a ventriloquist helped me with my sadness and loss,” he said. And with his love for acting as a ventriloquist, along with his talents in music and magic, he found he could help others (feel joy) too, and he’s never strayed from that mission.

Oliver worked on a showboat in Nashville for seven years, and on one in Branson for 13 years. Many may remember him from his performances on “America’s Got Talent.” That was just one of a “slew of shows” that he did. He even appeared in a few episodes of “Walker, Texas Ranger” as the guy in a bar with a talking dog.

He’s been at this gig for for a long time, and it’s made his dreams come true. “My dream was not to work in Las Vegas or be on television, my dream was to go across America and perform in old and new theaters. I’d studied vaudeville a little … there’s certain respectful expectation in theaters,” he said.

“When you come to the Talent Factory, you’re coming for the show,” Oliver continued, and he plans to give that to those who come on March 3.

Talent Factory owner Larry Sloan said having Oliver and Irving at the theater before was a ball. “Todd and Irving took questions from the audience and talked about the different facets of being a talking dog. Also, he and Irving sang some songs… Kids will have an absolute blast at this show. You’re not going to see this level of act anywhere but large cities.”

For more information on tickets for the Oliver show, go to www.iowatalentfactory.com, visit the Talent Factory’s Facebook page or call the Talent Factory at 515-382-0085.